Equalizing draft-gearing.



L. J. JACKSON.

EQUALIZING DRAFT GEARING. APPLICATION FILED JULY 26, 1909.

968,158. Patented Aug. 23, 1910. I I 1 I n I n 22 2? NE -j "-1 2 2/ 17/7 Z M 9 Z5 Z6 Z4 Z6 a 25/ I 25 Q 6 6 THE "cams PEYERS ca, wnsnnvcwu, n.c,

LAIRD J. JACKSON, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 ROBERT M.MILLER, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

EQUALIZING DRAFT-GEARING;

1'0 all who-m it may concern:

Be it known that I, LAIRD J. JACKSON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inEqualizing Draft-Gearing, of which the following is a specification,reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

My invention consists of an improvement in equalizing draft gearing forwagons, etc., and particularly for heavy draft wagons.

It has for its objects to provide means for hitching a team to the wagonin such a manner that the pull will be directly against the front axleby equalizing mechanism through which the strain is transmitted so thatthe pull will be forward and also upward, and whereby a pull toward theright or left will throw the axle in the proper direction transverselyof the wagon bed toward the right or left for turning in a correspondingdirection.

The invention embraces the construction illustrated and hereinafterdescribed and its parts made and adapted to operate in the mannerhereinafter described.

In the drawings :Figure 1 is a plan view of the gearing. Fig. 2 is avertical longitudinal sectional view of the front running gear showingthe construction. Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross section on the line III.III. of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a side view of the separable supporting clipfor the equalizing bar. Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional View on the lineV. V. of Fig. 1.

2 is the front axle of the wagon upon which its body is supported by theusual springs and having the customary tongue 3 provided with the doubletree 4.

5 is an equalizing bar, preferably of hollow tubing or pipe, suspendedfrom the double tree 4 by the separable clips a consisting of twoco-acting parts 6 and 7.

Each of said parts is hollowed out transversely across its middle innerportion and the two parts embrace bar 5 and are secured thereto andtogether by transverse bolt 8, one of said clips a being located at eachend of the bar 5 in proper position for attachment of the swingle trees9, 9.

Each side 6, 7, of each clip has an upwardly extending eye portion 10,11, respectively, which form together a split ring for easy connectionwith the eye 12 of the Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 26, 1909.

Patented Aug. 23, 1910. Serial No. 509,539.

double tree 4, as will be readily understood. Forward side 7 of eachclip is provided with a hook 13 for connection with the link 14 ofswingle tree 9, said hook having a hookand-eye connection with acorresponding holding extension 16 of side 6. By this construction, whenthe clip a is assembled and connected with the bar 5 by bolt 8 andattached to the other parts, it forms a strong rigid connection and iseasily and quickly assembled and taken apart.

The axle 2 is provided at each end with a clip 17 having an eye 18 forconnection of the diagonal chains 19, 19, the clips being cut out at 20for clearance of the axle spring clips 21 and clip 17 is secured to theaxle by U bolt 22. Clip 17 has a bolt hole at one side and an elongatedslot 23 at the other side so as to admit of attachment to axles ofdifferent sizes by different sized bolts 22.

24 is a spanner located about midway between the axle 2 and theequalizing bar 5 and centrally of the width of the lateral space,consisting of a substantially flat piece of metal having the divergentlyarranged horns 25, 25, at back and 26, 26, at front. Each of said hornsis provided at its extremity with link openings 27 having longitudinaland transverse clearance spaces as clearly shown, and preferablyhollowed and rounded to fit the links, whereby the links of chains 19and oppositely arranged diagonally disposed similar chains 28 areconnected to the spanner in the manner shown. The spanner is preferablyprovided at its middle portion with a similar link opening 29 forattachment of the end of a chain for hitching a third or middle horse.

Chains 28 are connected with eyes 28' at the ends of bolts 8 whichsecure clips a to equalizing bar 5, preferably with intervening draftsprings 30 of well known construction, and in assembling the parts thechains are drawn up tight so that they, with the spanner, provide afairly stiff connecting structure. By this means, when the power of theteam is exerted through the swingle trees and their connections 14, theypull forwardly on the lower ends of clips (0 and draw the equalizing bar5 forwardly, the

' split eyes 1011 forming a fulcrum connection with the eye 12 of doubletree 4, the pull being exerted through the equalizing bar 5, chains 28,spanner 24 and chains 19 to each end of the axle 2. Thus a back thrustis exerted on the double tree 4, relieving it and its connection withthe tongue of the usual pulling strain.

As shown, the plane of chains 28, 19 and spanner 2% is upwardly andforwardly and the connections 14 of the swingle trees with the lowerends of clips a being low, the pull by the team is also upwardly andforwardly. This is of great advantage, especially on rough or steeproads, and utilizes the horse power to the best advantage.

The entire structure provides an approximately stiff tension frameconnection between the swingle tree connections and the axle, so thatturning strains or pulls are directly applied to one end or the other ofthe axle, avoiding the usual strains through the tongue and the frontcollar connections therewith.

lVhat I claim is:

1. Equalizing draft gearing consisting of an equalizing bar, a centrallylocated spanner, flexible connections leading from said spanner to theterminals of the equalizing bar and to divergent points of attachment ofthe running gear of a vehicle, and means for connecting the equalizingbar with pulling apparatus.

2. Equalizing draft gearing consisting of an equalizing bar, a centrallylocated spanner, flexible connections leading from said spanner to theterminals of the equalizing bar and to divergent points of attachment ofthe running gear of a vehicle, supporting clips for the equalizing barsecured to each end thereof, a double tree having carrying meanstherefor engaging said clips, and pulling apparatus connected with theclips.

3. The combination with the axle of a vehicle, of an equalizing barlocated forward and upward from the axle, means connecting theequalizing bar with the pulling apparatus, a spanner, and meansconnected with the terminals of the axle and equalizing bar respectivelyand to said spanner.

l. In equalizing draft gearing, the combination with the axle of avehicle, of an equalizing bar, a centrally arranged spanner intermediatebetween the axle and the equalizing bar, means connecting the spannerwith each end of the axle and equalizing bar respectively, and means forconnecting the equalizing bar with pulling apparatus.

5. In equalizing draft gearing, the combination with the axle of avehicle and a double tree, of an equalizing bar, means con necting theequalizing bar with each end of the axle, a clip supported from each endof the double tree engaging the ends of the equalizing bar, said cliphaving means for connection with pulling apparatus.

6. The combination with an axle and equalizing bar, of an interveningspanner provided with divergently arranged terminals, and connectingelements leading from the ends of the axle and equalizing barrespectively and having adjustable connection with the terminals of saidspanner.

7. The combination with an axle and equalizing bar, of an interveningspanner provided with divergently arranged terminals, connectingelements leading from the ends of the axle and equalizing barrespectively and having adjustable connections with the terminals ofsaid spanner, and means for supporting the equalizing bar and forconnecting it with pulling apparatus.

8. The combination with the supporting bar of a draft gear, of aseparable two-part clip providing a supporting eye, and embracing thesides of the equalizing bar, one of said sides having a dependingportion engaging the other side and adapted to make connection with theswingle tree, with means for securing said clip to the equalizing bar.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LAIRD J. JACKSON.

Witnesses C. M. CLARKE, CHAS. S. LEPLEY.

